Eastern Iberian Peninsula Research Articles

Lost in transition: the dietary shifts from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages in the North Eastern Iberian Peninsula

The Late Antiquity to the Early Middle age transition in the North Eastern Iberian Peninsula was a historical period of cultural, social and political changes. Both Germanics and North African peoples settled in this region in successive migratory waves. The impact of these population movements on the cultural habits of the local population has been barely explored. This paper explores the dietary changes of the population who were buried in the necropolis of the Churches of Sant Pere de Terrassa (Barcelona, Spain) during the Visigoth (fifth to eighth centuries ad) and Carolingian periods (ninth to tenth centuries ad). This study investigates the δ13C and δ15N stable isotopic values in bone collagen from 68 human samples and 36 faunal remains in order to improve the understanding of dietary changes that occurred during this transition. The results indicate a human diet based on C3-plants and livestock sources. On average, the Visigoth samples exhibited an enriched isotopic signal compared to that of the Carolingian period, which may be attributed to the consumption of high trophic level of animal protein. Some δ13C results of the adult human samples suggest that C4-plants (most probably millet) made proportionately smaller but significant contributions to the diet during the Visigoth period. The paleodietary data obtained here will be important for future further studies focused on the transition from the Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula, and the attending regional scale of changes. This will also give insight about how profound a transformation in policy and economy occurred during that period affected human consumer patterns in the region.

Soil erosion on the “El Portalet” mountain trails in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula

Leisure activities in natural areas have experienced a large increase in popularity. In Mediterranean ecosystems, research on soil erosion in agriculture and forest fire affected land has been well developed but trail erosion has not been widely studied. In this work we evaluated two trails in the eastern Iberian Peninsula to assess soil erosion rates and provide new data. The study area is located in a semi-arid Mediterranean climate (around 400 mm y−1) and in limestone terrain with scarce soil development. The average erosion rates were 24.39 Mg ha−1 y−1 and 40.40 Mg ha−1 y−1 for the “Barranc de la Cova de la Hedra” and “Casa del Racó” study trails, respectively. These are non-sustainable rates due to the shallow soils and slow soil development in Mediterranean ecosystems. We found that the depth at the centre of the trail and the maximum depth measured could quickly and easily assess soil erosion rates in the mountain trails. Measuring the width and depth in the centre of the trail can assess 91% of the total erosion and reduces the time of the survey by 80%.

Rotifer communities in Mediterranean ponds in eastern Iberian Peninsula: abiotic and biotic factors defining pond types

espanolSe han estudiado las comunidades de rotiferos en 130 charcas mediterraneos con gran amplitud de caracteristicas limnologicas. El objetivo es comprobar la efectividad de estas comunidades en la identificacion de diferentes tipos de charcas, asi como lo factores que determinan esta distribucion. Entre las variables ambientales analizadas, el hidroperiodo se destaca como factor principal, separando las charcas temporales de las permanentes con mayor estabilidad del medio. Posteriormente, factores abioticos y bioticos muestran una diferente importancia relativa dentro de cada uno de estos dos grupos de charcas. Entre las charcas temporales, factores abioticos, como clima arido, elevada turbidez e hidroperiodos cortos, definen un grupo especial de charcas temporales argilotroficas, en las que Rhinoglena frontalis es la especie de rotifero mas caracteristica. Estas charcas temporales con hidroperiodo corto tiene pocas especies de rotiferos (4 de media) y generalmente planctonicas. Las charcas permanentes tienen mayor riqueza de especies (13 de media 13 y un maximo de 33 especies) y mas especies litorales. Estas comunidades de rotiferos de charcas permanentes estan mas relacionadas con factores bioticos, como la abundancia de peces y macrofitos. La elevada cobertura de macrofitos favorece una heterogeneidad del habitat y una mayor gama de formas de alimentacion, desde herbivoros hasta especies carnivoras (Dicranophorus grandis o Cupelophagis vorax). Estos resultados muestran que las comunidades de rotiferos son utiles para proporcionar una tipologia de charcas y que existe un orden jerarquico de factores que las estructuran desde factores abioticos hasta factores bioticos. Un ejemplo de la hipotesis de gradientes de estres, mas significativa en la heterogenea area mediterranea, y que puede indicar la direccionalidad de cambios relacionados con el estado de conservacion o los efectos del calentamiento global. EnglishWe examined the rotifer community composition in 130 freshwater Mediterranean ponds which included a wide range of limnological characteristics. The objective was to test the effectiveness of rotifer assemblages in the identification of different ponds types and the forcing factors that determine their distribution. Among the environmental variables analysed hydroperiod stands out as a major factor separating true temporary ponds from those with permanent water stability. Abiotic and biotic factors showed a different relative importance in the two groups of ponds. Among the temporary ponds, abiotic variables, such as arid climate, turbidity and short hydroperiod defined a special group called argillotrophic, in which Rhinoglena frontalis was found to be the most characteristic rotifer species. Those temporary ponds with short hydroperiods supported few species (mean species richness 4) and, in the main, planktonic species. Permanent ponds supported higher species richness (mean 13 and maximum 33 species) composed mainly of littoral species. The rotifer community of permanent ponds was found to be correlated with biotic factors, such as fish and macrophyte abundance. High macrophyte cover favours complex habitat heterogeneity and a wider range of feeding traits, ranging from algae-grazing species to carnivorous species (Dicranophorus grandis or Cupelophagis vorax). These results showed that rotifer communities are useful to provide a typology of ponds with a hierarchical order of factors structuring them ranging from abiotic to biotic factors. This is an example of Stress Gradient Hypothesis being more significant in the heterogeneous Mediterranean area, and which may indicate trends of changes related to the conservation status or the effects of global warming

Expansion history of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea).

Expansion history of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea).

Body growth and its implications in population dynamics of Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1834) in the Eastern Iberian peninsula

Abstract We calculated growth rate for the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabiting coastal eastern Spain from long-term mark-recapture data. Growth curves differ between sexes, with males growing faster than females and achieving larger size maximums. In this population each sex reaches maturity at about 300 days of age, approximately 34% faster than males, and 28% faster than females studied in a population further south and west in Iberia. Our logarithmic growth model has an accuracy of 96.8% and high statistical significance ( for males and for females). Although both the exponential curve of “best fit” for growth estimated for males (), and the linear curve of “best fit” estimated for females () in a population from Cádiz (Busack and Jaksic, 1982) are also significant. The overlap between growth curves and the general data cloud of the population showed that at the end of the year the proportion of individuals younger than one year was 80% and the proportion of individuals older than one year was 20%. Our data, in agreement with calculated maximum life spans for males (1.9 years) and females (2.1 years) in Cádiz, suggest a life span of approximately two years for both sexes. Females seem to reproduce only in a unique season in their lives, at this locality, as in Cádiz (Busack and Klosterman, 1987) they likely lay only one clutch, whereas females in Morocco (Bons, 1962) may produce two.

Zamenis scalaris prefers abandoned citrus orchards in Eastern Spain. Ecological insights from a radio-tracking survey

Abstract Zamenis scalaris is a generalist active forager Mediterranean snake for which knowledge on spatial ecology is very limited. We report insights into the spatial and temporal patterns, and habitat use of four snakes, obtained through one-year radio-tracking monitoring in a citrus orchard landscape, in Eastern Iberia. Snakes showed a highly secretive behaviour, remaining hidden most of the annual cycle (>96% of records). Annual home ranges and movements were reduced in contrast to the expected energetic requirements of the species. Despite a similar pattern of non-activity during winter and a subsequent increase of movement rate and home range size in spring, each snake adopted a distinct spatial behaviour in summer and autumn. Abandoned citrus orchards and accessory constructions were the most frequent habitats selected by snakes, offering abundant prey and shelter. These resources are likely playing a crucial role in the spatial ecology of Z. scalaris.

Combining literature-based and data-driven fuzzy models to predict brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) spawning habitat degradation induced by climate change

A fuzzy rule-based system combining empirical data on hydraulic preferences and literature information on temperature requirements was used to foresee the brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) spawning habitat degradation induced by climate change. The climatic scenarios for the Cabriel River (Eastern Iberian Peninsula) corresponded to two Representative Concentration Pathways (4.5 and 8.5) for the short (2011–2040) and mid (2041–2070) term horizons. The hydraulic and hydrologic modelling were undertaken with process-based numerical models (i.e., River2D© and HBV-light) while the water temperature was modelled by assembling the predictions of three machine learning techniques (M5, Multi-Adaptive Regression Splines and Support Vector Regression). The predicted rise in the water temperature will not be compensated by the more benign lower flows. Consequently, the suitable spawning habitat will be reduced between 15.4–48.7%. The entire population shall suffer the effects of climate change and will probably be extirpated from the downstream segments of the river.

Integrative approaches to guide conservation decisions: Usinggenomics to define conservation units and functionalcorridors.

Climate change and increasing habitat loss greatly impact species survival, requiring range shifts, phenotypic plasticity and/or evolutionary change for long-term persistence, which may not readily occur unaided in threatened species. Therefore, defining conservation actions requires a detailed assessment of evolutionary factors. Existing genetic diversity needs to be thoroughly evaluated and spatially mapped to define conservation units (CUs) in an evolutionary context, and we address that here. We also propose a multidisciplinary approach to determine corridors and functional connectivity between CUs by including genetic diversity in the modelling while controlling for isolation by distance and phylogeographic history. We evaluate our approach on a Near Threatened Iberian endemic rodent by analysing genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) genomic data from 107 Cabrera voles (Microtus cabrerae), screening the entire species distribution to define categories of CUs and their connectivity: We defined six management units (MUs) which can be grouped into four evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) and three (putatively) adaptive units (AUs). We demonstrate that the three different categories of CU can be objectively defined using genomic data, and their characteristics and connectivity can inform conservation decision-making. In particular, we show that connectivity of the Cabrera vole is very limited in eastern Iberia and that the pre-Pyrenean and part of the Betic geographic nuclei contribute the most to the species genetic diversity. We argue that a multidisciplinary framework for CU definition is essential and that this framework needs a strong evolutionary basis.

Comparative assessment of RAMS and WRF short-term forecasts over Eastern Iberian Peninsula using various in-situ observations, remote sensing products and uncoupled land surface model datasets

The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale models are being used for weather and air quality studies as well as forecasting tools in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems. In the current study, we perform a comparative assessment of these models under distinct typical atmospheric conditions, classified according to the dominant wind flow and cloudiness, over Eastern Iberian Peninsula. This study is focused on the model representation of key physical processes in terms of meteorology and surface variables during a 7-days period in summer 2011. The hourly outputs produced by these two models are compared not only with observed standard surface variables, measured at different permanent weather stations located over the region of study, but also with different surface remote sensing products and uncoupled Land Surface Models (LSM) datasets. Confronting RAMS and WRF, the current study highlights relevant differences over areas near the coast when mesoscale circulations or Eastern synoptic advections are developed over the region of study. A higher moisture content is observed under these atmospheric conditions, due to the moisture transport by the sea breeze inland. In this regard, it has been found that the Eastern wind field simulated by WRF reaches inland areas and comprises a larger sea breeze extension than RAMS. This sea breeze development impacts meteorology and surface variables in locations not too close to the coast, but still affected by land-sea winds. Additionally, WRF remains more windy and moister than RAMS at night-time, while alike results are found under Western synoptic advections. The results obtained in the current paper show differences under distinct dominant atmospheric conditions, which outline further research in this field in order to achieve more general conclusions.

Taphonomic processes inconsistent with indigenous Mesolithic acculturation during the transition to the Neolithic in the Western Mediterranean

We applied taphonomic analysis combined with geostatistical approaches to investigate the hypothesis that Cocina cave (Eastern Iberia) represents an acculturation context for the appearance of Neolithic Cardial pottery. In the 1970s, Fortea suggested that this important site was a prime example of acculturation because of the presence of early Neolithic pottery in late Mesolithic contexts. Since that time Cocina cave has been heralded as an example of indigenous hunter-gatherers incorporating Neolithic cultural elements into their lifeways. We analyzed the area excavated by Fortea in the 1970s by digitizing archaeological records and testing the spatial distribution of artifacts using geostatistical analysis and high-resolution AMS radiocarbon dating. We contextualized the findings by discussing key issues of archaeological depositions with the goal to better understand the palimpsest that usually occur in prehistoric sequences. Our analysis indicates that the mixture of Mesolithic and Neolithic materials resulted from taphonomic processes rather than acculturation.

Regeneration of Pinus pinaster Aiton after prescribed fires: Response to burn timing and biogeographical seed provenance across a climatic gradient

Prescribed fires are used as a fuel reduction tool, but heat alter microsite conditions affecting the natural regeneration of Mediterranean pine forests. Our study tested the hypothesis that implementing prescription before or after pine seed release may influence the composition of tree communities by changing the regeneration patterns of Pinus pinaster Aiton across a climatic gradient in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. We ran a seed-sowing experiment to analyse the recruitment patterns of this pine species in prescribed-burned stands, in two different biogeographical seed provenances from wetter and drier areas than the local seeding site. Survival of seedlings was through one year, until the end of the first drought and winter period, respectively. >5400 seeds were sown during the study distributed in sixty plots (30 burned, 30 unburned) per site and treatment, with 10 seeding units per plot. General linear models (GLMs) and ANOVA analyses indicated higher performance for the Drier seed provenance in burned areas, whereas a similar performance was recorded in the control area. Control areas showed higher germination and success rates for plant establishment throughout the study period. Total germination and survival after one year were slightly higher, respectively, at northern sites due to massive mortality during summer in the southern stands. At the burned sites, the mean germination time was significantly longer in those seeds sown before fire passage than those sown after fire. Total germination and successful establishment were significantly higher in the individuals sown before the passage of the fire than in those sown after fire. Most of the mortality occurred in summer for the southern stand, while winter was the most constraining period at the northern sites. The understanding of the dynamics in this species' establishment can help managers to perform a better management planning according to the species' ecology.

Morphological and molecular data support recognition of a new rupicolous species of Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) from the Iberian Peninsula

A new rupicolous species, Pinguicula saetabensis, belonging to P. sect. Pinguicula is described from calcareous cliffs of central-southern Valencia province, in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. It has previously been confused with P. mundi and P. vallisneriifolia, two close allies endemic to southern Spain which share some morphological traits and a similar habitat. However, some peculiarities allow recognition of those Valencian plants at the specific rank. Data on morphology, ecology, biogeography and conservation are reported for the new species, and its taxonomic affinities are discussed on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Furthermore, the presence of one population of P. vallisneriifolia is confirmed in that province, also based on morphological and molecular data.

Macrobotanical evidence (wood charcoal and seeds) from the Middle Palaeolithic site of El Salt, Eastern Iberia: Palaeoenvironmental data and plant resources catchment areas

Despite the current growing number of studies that focus on macrobotanical remains from Middle Palaeolithic contexts, plant use among hunter-gatherer societies remains unknown in many regions of Europe. Large-scale flotation of archaeological sediments has made it possible to recover a large amount of plant remains (fruits, seeds and wood) from units VIII, IX, Xa and Xb at El Salt, Eastern Iberia (49.2–52.3 ka BP). The combination of anthracological and carpological analyses has provided a more accurate picture of the Middle Palaeolithic landscape in the Serpis valley, as well as significant information about other possible uses of plants, not only as fuel, but for woodworking or food, for instance. A minimum of twenty different taxa have been identified among the plant remains. Charcoal analysis suggested that firewood was gathered from nearby sources (<1 km), with a predominance of black-scots pine woodlands (Pinus nigra-sylvestris) and maples (Acer sp.). The carpological data reveal the use of some woody taxa not documented in the anthracological record (Taxus baccata or yew) and the presence of few mineralised seeds whose origin remains unknown (Celtis australis or hackberry, Rubus cf. laciniatus or evergreen blackberry). These data have significant implications for the interpretation of plant economy among Neanderthal groups, reinforcing the importance of available woody resources in the surroundings for the subsistence of the group.

Extreme Mesozoic Crustal Thinning in the Eastern Iberia Margin: The Example of the Columbrets Basin (Valencia Trough)

AbstractEastern Iberia preserves a complex succession of Mesozoic rifts partly or completely inverted during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic in relation with Africa‐Eurasia convergence. Notably, the Valencia Trough, classically viewed as part of the Cenozoic West Mediterranean basins, preserves in its southwestern part a thick Mesozoic succession (locally ≈10 km thick) over a highly thinned continental basement (locally only ≈3.5 km thick). This subbasin, referred to as the Columbrets Basin, represents a Late Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous hyperextended rift basin weakly overprinted by subsequent events. Its initial configuration is well preserved allowing us to unravel its 3‐D architecture and tectonostratigraphic evolution in the frame of the Mesozoic evolution of eastern Iberia. The Columbrets Basin benefits from an extensive data set combining high‐resolution seismic reflection profiles, drill holes, seismic refraction data, and expanding spread profiles. The interactions between halokinesis, involving the Upper Triassic salt, and extensional deformation controlled the architecture of the Mesozoic basin. The thick uppermost Triassic to Cretaceous succession displays a large‐scale “syncline” shape, progressively stretched and dismembered toward the basin borders. We propose that the SE border of the basin is characterized by a large extensional detachment fault acting at crustal scale and interacting locally with the Upper Triassic décollement. This extensional structure accommodates the exhumation of the continental basement and part of the crustal thinning. Eventually, our results highlight the complex interaction between extreme crustal thinning and occurrence of a prerift salt level for the deformation style and tectonostratigraphic evolution of hyperextended rift basins.

The Land Commenda in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon and the Rise of a ‘Democratic’ Investment Culture

This paper presents evidence for the use of the ‘commenda’ contract as a means of investment and accumulating entrepreneurial capital in the Bages region of Catalonia during the later thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This use of a ‘land commenda’ in eastern Iberia is at present known only to a few specialists, but it might have been more widespread and deserves further study. The land commenda helped fuel the commercial boom in Catalonia in the decades around 1300. It was often utilized by smaller investors and modest entrepreneurs, and helped mobilize capital from a broad spectrum of Catalans. The chronology of land commenda use suggests that as interest rates declined in the later fourteenth century, and as new instruments were developed, smaller investors’ savings were left underutilized.

A new infraspecific arrangement of Teucrium thymifolium (Lamiaceae), an aggregate endemic to the Iberian Peninsula

In the framework of our studies on Lamiaceae from the eastern Iberian Peninsula, for the forthcoming fourth volume of Flora valentina, a new infraspecific arrangement is proposed here for the Iberian endemic Teucrium thymifolium. Besides the type subspecies, T. thymifolium subsp. thymifolium, which is widely distributed through the eastern Iberian Peninsula, two new nomenclatural combinations are established: (i) T. thymifolium subsp. fraternum (Pau) M.B. Crespo, M.A. Alonso & Mart.-Azorín (= T. terciae), for the thermophilous populations growing in SE Murcia province, and (ii) T. thymifolium subsp. hervieri (Briq. & Debeaux) M.B. Crespo, M.A. Alonso & Mart.-Azorín, for Subbaetic inland populations from where the provinces of Albacete, Jaén and Granada come into contact. Nomenclatural types and data on distribution and ecology are reported for all accepted subspecies, including the designation of a lectotype for T. thymifolium subsp. hervieri. Furthermore, relationships of the latter to the recently described T. moleromesae Sánchez Gómez et al. are briefly discussed, both taxa being treated here in synonymy.

Biogeographic evaluation of the dragonflies and damselflies in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula

Insects are one of the most diverse groups of animals in terrestrial ecosystems, and are thus a good model system to study macrogeographic patterns in species’ distributions. Here we perform a biogeographical analysis of the dragonflies and damselflies in the Valencian Country (Eastern Iberian Peninsula). We also compare the species present in this territory with those in the adjacent territories of Catalonia and Aragon, and with those present in the whole Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, we update the list of species of dragonflies and damselflies in the Valencian territory (65 species), and discuss the current status of two of them: Macromia splendens and Lindenia tetraphylla. Our results highlight that the Valencian Country has a higher proportion of Ethiopian elements but a lower proportion of Eurosiberian elements than Catalonia and Aragon. We also emphasize the importance of volunteer work in providing new knowledge on this group of iconic insects, and the relevance of museum collections in preserving them. The role of climate change in the distribution of Odonata is also discussed.

Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. Chemotypes in Eastern Iberian Peninsula: Essential Oil Variation and Relation with Ecological Factors.

Essential oil (EO) extracts coming from two representative populations of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. subesp. suaveolens in Eastern Iberian Peninsula were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and flame ion detector. Plant sampling was carried out in the morning and evening in order to study diurnal variation in EO profiles. Likewise, leaves and inflorescences were analyzed separately. Two chemotypes corresponding to each one of the populations were identified, with piperitenone oxide (35.2 - 74.3%) and piperitone oxide (83.9 - 91.3%), respectively, as major compounds. Once different chemotypes were identified, canonical correspondence analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of the bioclimatic and edaphic factors recorded in each location on the observed differences. Statistical analysis suggested that these chemotypes were closely related to specific environmental factors, mainly the bioclimatic ones. Concretely, piperitenone oxide chemotype can be associated to supramediterranean bioclimatic conditions and soils with major salinity and water field capacity. On the other hand, the most volatile fraction (hydrocarbon monoterpenes) reached its higher level in the morning; specifically, a noticeable amount of limonene was found in morning samples of flowers (4.8 - 10.6%). This fact can be related to ecological role of volatile compounds in order to attract pollinator insects.

Approaching subsistence activities in the Mesolithic by means of lithic tools: The case of El Collado site (Oliva, Eastern Iberia)

Since its excavation, in the late 1980s, El Collado has been considered a Mesolithic funerary site. Nevertheless, recent studies of the site chronology and other material evidence - excluding the human remains - have indicated more complex dynamics of this site, combining both funerary and habitation uses by Mesolithic communities. First, a Bayesian model of the available radiocarbon dates provides information about the chronological dynamics in the human uses of the site. The model reveals that data are not representative of a single event but rather show the existence of several chronostratigraphic phases. Second, a noteworthy lithic assemblage from the site, which does not appear to be linked to the Mesolithic burials, can be attributed to the Notches and Denticulates Mesolithic facies in Mediterranean Iberia and the Ebro Basin. Technological and use-wear analyses of the lithic tools have been carried out in order to seek new data concerning the subsistence and craft activities performed by the communities that occupied the site. It must be noted that only in few cases similar studies had been applied previously on Mesolithic sites in the area of study. The first results show intense work on hard materials, such as wood, bone or antler, which a priori could lead to this site being considered a not specialized one from the functional point of view. These results are discussed taking into account all the inputs and possible biases due to the nature of the site and sampling carried out in the fieldwork.

The Anthropogenic Use of Firewood During the European Middle Pleistocene: Charcoal Evidence from Levels XIII and XI of Bolomor Cave, Eastern Iberia (230–160 ka)

ABSTRACTHuman control of fire is a widely debated issue in the field of Palaeolithic archaeology, since it involved significant technological innovations for human subsistence. Although fire evidence has been the subject of intense debate regarding its natural or anthropogenic nature, most authors agree that combustion structures represent the most direct evidence of human control of fire. Wood charcoal fragments from these contexts represent the fuel remains that result from humans’ collection of firewood, which means they can reveal significant behavioural and palaeoenvironmental information relevant to our understanding of Middle Palaeolithic societies. In this work, we present anthracological data derived from combustion structure 2 (level XIII, ca. 230 ka, MIS 7) and combustion structure 4 (level XI, ca. 160 ka, MIS 6) from Bolomor Cave, which are chronologically among the earliest combustion structures found in Europe. The present work discusses how the presence of black pine and / or scots pine in both levels sheds light on the characterisation of the local landscape. Additional analyses focussing on the pre- and post-depositional processes affecting charcoal preservation point to biodegradation patterns. The aim of this work is to provide the first discussion concerning the anthracological data derived from Bolomor Cave in order to contribute to the general debate regarding the use of fire during the European Middle Pleistocene.